Know more about the 'Vuvuzela'

So what exactly is a vuvuzela?

It is plastic horn, brightly coloured, and seen in abundance at sporting events in South Africa. The first vuvuzelas seen at sporting events in the early 90s were made from a sheet of metal. A standard vuvuzela is 65cm long but some can be up to a metre long.

Where do they originate?

No-one really knows. The most commonly-held belief is that it is related to the kudu horn that was blown to summon African villagers to meetings.

However, earlier this year, the Nazareth Baptist Church claimed the vuvuzela as its own – used by its members on pilgrimages – and threatened legal action to stop them being used at the World Cup.

What does “vuvuzela” mean?

Again, it appears to be a matter of debate. Some think it comes from the Zulu word for “making noise”. Others say it is township slang for “shower” because it “showers people with music”. Many believe it means “pump up”.

How did it end up as a fixture of the football stadium?

The Nazarath Baptist Church says it “lost” the vuvuzela back in the 1990s when a supporter of South Africa’s biggest football team visited the church. Unable to take the long metal trumpet inside the football grounds, he re-modelled it in plastic.

Vuvuzela-makers say they began to mass-produce the instrument in plastic when the original tin version began to make appearances at games during the 1990s.

So describe the sound?

The typical pitch of a vuvuzela is said to be B flat below middle C.

On its own, it has been compared unflatteringly to an elephant passing wind. When there is a football terrace full of the instruments, the sound has been likened to a swarm of angry wasps.